Coldplay Sued For Plagiarism

Rock guitarist Joe Satriani has sued British band Coldplay, accusing the Grammy-nominated stars of plagiarizing one of his songs.

Satriani's copyright infringement suit, filed on Thursday in Los Angeles federal court, claims the Coldplay song "Viva La Vida" incorporates "substantial original portions" of his 2004 instrumental "If I Could Fly."

The 52-year-old guitar virtuoso is seeking a jury trial, damages and "any and all profits" attributable to the alleged copyright infringement.

KEEP READING REUTERS STORY

OR

WATCH A YOUTUBE CLIP COMPARING THE SONGS:

Comments

[rekk]

Both Coldplay and Satriani are cheesy,sentimental and not very inventive (though, at least Satch can shred). I think that they should both be convicted on this account, if anything, to go back to the drawing board and start coming up with challenging music that doesn't stay within the range of everything these days - please the multitudes and go brain-dead while doing it. There are NOT only "so many chords" in the musician's alphabet, there are literally infinite choices. Musicians should be encouraged to engage them all instead of relying constantly on the same, boring, comatose-inducing "power chord ballads". Coldplay should be made an example of and Satch should retire.

[WriterRoss]

Wow. I thought "Vida La Vida" sounded very, very familiar. Now I know why.
To be honest: the first time I heard the song, I thought it was Bono singing.

[spiritthieves]

The melody is so bland that anyone could have written it.

Joe Satriani probably heard it in an elevator somewhere.

[whatsthatsound]

Coldplay should just hire the guy. Then they wouldn't be so boring.

[karinova]

I was shocked to discover, a few years ago, that plagiarism is apparently the music industry's dirty little secret. It's rampant, and (perhaps not surprisingly?), it's the big players who get accused the most. Madonna, for one, has like dozens of suits pending against her at all times.

Sure, sometimes the accusations seem to be a stretch, but some of it is so obvious--whole chunks of songs where the key, tempo and lyrics all match up-- I don't know what else to call it. And a LOT of them are settled-- for a LOT of money-- so it makes you wonder.

[dashcat]

They sound the same to me. Too bad they didn't get together on this song. Cold Play's song really needs Satriani's kick ass guitar to make it a better song and, alternately, Satriani's music benefits from the lyrics.

They should talk and come to an agreement.

[amwalker]

Yeah, and Dylan's "Changing of the Guards" also uses a similar chord progression. It happens all the time in music. There are only so many chords you can use to write a song.
Good God, it'd be like Van Morrison suing the Ramones because "Blitzkrieg Bop" uses A, D, and E just like "Gloria." It's not a big deal.

[thefooligan5]

Practically every song on the radio these days is 'influenced' by some prior piece of music whether it is well known or not. I think most of this influence is unintentional. We spend so much time listening to music and we are virtually surrounded by msuci each and every day. It is not surprising for someone think an idea is their own when it is simply an old memory which goes below the radar of the higher consciousness. Nevertheless, Coldplay will lose this fight in court but I doubt what they did was intentional. Any rational person knows that when you are in a band that huge you are always going to be busted for plagiarism.
Also, Coldplay makes such generic soudning epic music that they are bound to sound similar to many songs from all over.

[Dr Independents Day]

I agree totally. As a part time musician myself, there are so many chords, and I have found myself doing this, and not on purpose

[ChescoMom]

YIKES- I must admit it's a little too close, which sucks cause I for one really like "Viva La Vida." The problem is, over time songs DO sound the same, and you never know--to give them the benefit of the doubt-- when you hear something and it sits in your head and you call it up as "original" music. Now, that Satriani song--sounds like stuff I heard in the EIGHTIES. Totally uninspiring. I at least like the orchestra in "VLV."

[ltyr2002]

Same key and tempo too. WOW!

Talk about a slam dunk lawsuit!

[the addick]

I recall George Harrison being sued for My Sweet Lord by the writer of He's So Fine. The court came to the conclusion that he had "unconsciously" violated copyright. No-one thought any the worse of George, so why all the vitriol here? Just a gathering place for Coldplay haters? As has been already stated, the album has been out for some time, and is hugely popular, what took him so long to sue?

[benman]

This is what Youtube was invented for.

[kathcalla]

Jesus...Martin and ColdPlay should be really ashamed of themselves...

Listening to Joe Santriani's grooves and the spirit of the session... I have absolutely no doubt ColdPlay directly and (arrogantly) stole Santriani's work!

Slam Dunk for Satriani: He will get get total justice...I look forward to hearing Satrini's rendition on major radio stations!!

I know what it's like to my have my own gut wrenching stories and unique hard won phrases lifted and used without attribution by powerful players!

Kathy Callahan

[AlwaysaLiberal]

Sorry but I don't buy it. They do sound similar, but the song is wildly popular and has been out for months. Why is this guy just suing them now?

[ltyr2002]

So the popularity of this ripped off song is a reason for not suing?

Satriani is SMARTER THAN YOU! That's why he waited until the song had made lots of money before landing the boom. Now HE gets the money for HIS music, and Coldplay gets the publicity for plagarism.

Sounds fair to me!

[paddles]

Somehow I can't imagine Coldplay even listening to Satriani-I don't know anyone who ever has.

[etcetc]

It takes a while to file a lawsuit. He probably started proceedings shortly after the songs release.

Does "time passing" make it ok that Coldyplay ripped him off? No.

[naturethings]

Unlike you, Joe has been in the industry for years, and most likely wanted to make sure that his initial thoughts, that someone used parts of his song for financial gain, was correct.

Not everyone sues at the drop of a hat.

[LoRiseAntlers]

Finally,the kings of rip-off might have to pay for their complete lack of originality.